United States Special Operations Forces
The
United States Special Operations Forces is the official category where the
United States Department of Defense lists the
US military units that have a training specialisation in
unconventional warfare and
special operations. Special Operations Forces are often referred to incorrectly as
US Special Forces, which, in actuality, is the official name for the
Green Berets.
The Department refers to such units (and similar foreign organisations) as
Special Operations Forces (SOF).
During peacetime, SOF units are usually under the operational command of their assigned branch of the military. But the
Secretary of Defense can place Special Operations Forces (including all of the below, as well as
US Navy SEAL units, selected units of the
US Air Force, and other units) under the direct control of the
United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), usually in time of active hostilities.US SOF units have the same basic role in warfare as the
special forces of most other countries, supplying small, elite units that can operate far behind enemy lines on
sabotage,
reconnaissance,
counter-insurgency and other missions. Most have extensive
airborne training.
Counter-Terrorist Units
*
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (SFOD-D) "Delta Force"
*
Navy Special Warfare Development Group "DEVGRU"
Special Operation Forces
*
Army Special Forces "Green Berets"
*
75th Ranger Regiment "Rangers"
*
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) "Night Stalkers"
*United States Army Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations Command
*
SEAL Teams*
Special Boat Teams (SBT's)
*
Air Force Special Forces "Special Tactics" (Pararescuemen, Combat Controllers, Combat Weathermen)
*
Tactical Air Control Parties (TACPs)
*
Force Reconnaissance *
Fleet Antiterrorism Security Teams*
Port Security Units (overseas port security for U.S. Navy and allied civilian installations)
*
Law Enforcement Detachments*
Maritime Safety and Security Teams (MSST)
Intelligence Community Special Units
*
Strategic Support Branch -
Defense Intelligence Agency*
Special Activities Staff -
Central Intelligence Agency*
Group 13 -
National Security AgencyJoint Task Forces
*
Gray Fox (aka
Capacity Gear or
Centra Spike ; former
Intelligence Support Activity)
*
Task Force 20*
Task Force 121 *
Task Force 21Former
*
Devil's Brigade (also 1st Special Service Force, WW II)
*
Marine Raiders (WW II)
*
Paramarines (WWII)
*
Merrill's Marauders aka. 5307th Composite Unit (provisional) (WW II)
*
Underwater Demolitions Team-formed in WW2 and tasked with the destruction of beach obstacles and collecting sand samples/
*
MACV SOG- A joint Allied unit comprised of 2,000 American soldiers (mostly
special forces) and over 8,000 highly trained South Vietnamese troops.
*
Tiger Force*
Project Delta,
Omega Group,
Sigma Group - Vietnam War era special forces units, of which much is speculated, rumored to still exist in some form.
*
Blue Light (early 1980s)
*
Red Cell*
Air Assault School -
Fort Campbell*
Ranger School and Course -
Fort Benning*
John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School -
Fort Bragg*
Marine Corps Combatant Diver Course -
Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center*
Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training -
Naval Special Warfare Center*
Air Force Special Operations School -
Hurlburt Field*
Special Operations Group-
United States Marshals Service *
Hostage Rescue Team -
Federal Bureau of Investigation*
Mobile Enforcment Teams -
Drug Enforcement Administration*
Special Response Teams -
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives*
The Special Forces Association*
UDT-SEAL Association*
USAF Pararescue Association*
Force Recon Association *
Army Ranger Association *
Civil Affairs AssociationAustralia
*
Australian Special Air Service RegimentFrance
*
Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale*
French Foreign LegionGreat Britian
*
Special Air Service*
Special Boat Service*
Special Reconnaissance RegimentGermany
*
Kommando Spezialkräfte*
Kampfschwimmer*
Grenzschutzgruppe 9*
Speacail FBI Agents*
United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
*
Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
*
SWAT#http://www.specialoperations.com/Units/military.htm#http://specwarnet.net/#http://www.mh-53pavelow.com
#USDOD (June 5, 2003).
US DOD Dictionary of Military Terms. United States Department of Defense. United States of America.#USDOD (June 5, 2003).
US DOD Dictionary of Military Terms: Joint Acronyms and Abbreviations. United States Department of Defense. United States of America.#Inside Delta Force by CSM.
Eric Haney (ret.) former Delta Force operator and founding member#Masters of Chaos by Linda Robinson#Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern Warfare by Mark Bowden#Not a Good Day to Die : The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda by Sean Naylor#http://www.specialoperations.com/Units/military.htm
